Northwest NEWS

Children's Resource & Activity Fair Saturday

The Children's Activity and Resource Fair will be an afternoon of fun for the whole family, with hands-on activities for kids of all ages and a wealth of community information for kids and adults.

Held this year outside at the Woodinville Towne Center, the fair will run from noon to 4 p.m. with booths, games, and fun for the entire family.

The Sorenson Early Childhood Center's (HeadStart) booth "has the best Play Dough you've ever seen," said Fair organizer Catherine Howard. The Center will provide kid-size chairs and tables as workstations for young artisans.

At the Woodinville Library's table, kids who want to feel like part of the crowd during the Basset Bash will make their own Basset ears and noses. "It gives kids who weren't in the parade a chance to be in costume and have more fun, " said Howard.

Kiwanis Club of Woodinville's booth will feature face painting by Key Club members from Woodinville High School. Donations will benefit an international Kiwanis drive to eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD), a prenatal condition which causes mental illness and goiter problems in one-third of the world's babies. "It only costs five cents to save each baby from IDD, so we're solving this problem one nickel at a time," said Howard. "Simply getting iodine in the salt of a pregnant mother's diet makes the difference."

Local teen Amber Longhurst of the Make A Wish Foundation will take wishes from those who attend.

Karen Martin of the Woodinville Adult Day Center will organize a Community Mural. Everyone is encouraged to make individual crayon drawings or work on a family composite drawing. The crayons and 8 1/2" x 14" sheets of paper will be provided. Seniors and teens will then organize the drawings into a mural.

The King County Sheriff Department's Marine Unit will feature Charlie the Deputy, a remote-controlled tugboat on wheels that will talk to youngsters (with a deputy's voice).

The Woodinville Historical Society will give kids hands-on practice with an antique tin punch. They will replicate simple home decorations from pioneer days, when kids punched holes in the tin lids of canning jars to make light-refracting mobiles.

Woodinville firefighters will talk to kids and parents about fire safety issues, and let kids try on fire suits. "Their suits and helmets look like something out of 'Star Wars.' This helps kids overcome possible fear if they were to ever be involved in a fire and saw a fireman coming into their house in full battle dress," said Howard.

Woodinville Police Services will give home safety tips to families, including how to prepare your home to discourage burglars while you're on vacation. They will also gladly answer any questions kids want to ask.

The City of Woodinville's table will provide a plethora of city and Metro information. The King County Sexual Assault Resource Center will spice their serious information with helium balloons.

Other groups will offer additional information and fun activities. Booth space is still available. Call Howard at the Woodinville Weekly, 425-483-0606.